Setting up your first saltwater aquarium can be an exciting and fun new hobby that has added benefits such as reducing stress, blood pressure, and even your heart rate. However, deciding on what fish to start with is an important decision.

Unfortunately, when setting up your first saltwater tank, the first few fish you add to the aquarium may not live. This is called New Tank Syndrome, which is often caused by ammonia toxicity and fluctuation in water parameters. New fish tank filters cannot adequately clean up the waste that is produced in a new saltwater tank, making the water toxic.

As well as considering top, middle and bottom-dwelling fish, your new saltwater fish should be able to tolerate the less-than-perfect conditions of a new tank. We have a list of the six most important attributes of a good saltwater starter fish.

 

Hardy Saltwater Fish
Saltwater fish need to be hardy to be able to tolerate a harsh and fluctuating aquarium.

Resistant to Parasites
Some species of fish are more prone to contracting life-threatening parasite infestations from nuisance parasites such as saltwater ich or amyloodinium. A good saltwater fish will be resistant to parasites.

Inexpensive Saltwater Fish
Saltwater fish can cost anywhere from a few pounds to hundreds of pounds. Your first saltwater fish should be relatively inexpensive - not necessarily the cheapest though.

Compatible with fish and corals
Your starter fish, being the first fish in the tank, should be a peaceful, non-territorial, non-aggressive species.

Colourful Saltwater Fish
No matter the size of the tank, you will be limited to how many fish and coral you can add, so make every fish count, and avoid drab or uninteresting fish.

Cool Saltwater Fish
A good saltwater starter fish should be interesting. Some are timid, some are bold, some are fast swimmers, some seem to waddle. A good starter fish will have an interesting personality.

Saltwater fish that don’t meet those criteria are probably not good starter fish and should not be added to your tank as one of the first fish.

If you need marine aquarium suppliers in the UK, visit our online store today!